Sam has been lost in Rockingham County since May 17 when he got away from his owner while on a walk in Candia. He has been spotted most recently in Fremont and Raymond walking along the road or grabbing a bite to eat in a farmer’s barn.

"He’s still out there," Danville Animal Control Officer Sheila Johannesen said. "It’s been a very long time. I can’t imagine the miles this dog has made. It’s unbelievable. It’s unusual to remain on the loose this long."

Sam was spotted last week at the feeding station set up in Fremont and attempted darting the animal a third time. New Hampshire SPCA cruelty investigator Steve Sprowl said the dog was reported in Fremont and he was assisted by Raymond and Fremont police.

Sprawl and local law enforcement authorities attempted to find the dog, which took three hours on foot, in cruisers and with the help of a helicopters, donated by a Massachusetts man. Once they found Sam officers used a dart gun to shoot him with sedatives. Unfortunately the medicine was frozen and was ineffective.

Dog owners Dennis and Peggy Sklarski of Candia, Sprowl, Johannesen and a team of dedicated others have been searching for Sam for the past seven months. They have hung hundreds of fliers, sought out the help of the media and taken many midnight rides looking for Sam.

Sklarski said although Sam looks in great condition with body bulk and heavy fur, they’d like to bring him home.

He was also amazed at Sam’s condition since he was clipped by a car two weeks ago. He wasn’t hurt apparently.

Sam was an abused dog that Sklarski adopted from a Memphis, Tenn., golden retriever rescue organization only three weeks before he ran away. Unfortunately it’s been difficult to catch Sam since he isn’t that familiar with his new owners. Sklarski said Sam is timid, scared and skittish, making him unapproachable.

About a month ago after getting a call from someone who spotted Sam in Fremont, Sprowl attempted twice to use sedative drug-filled darts to capture and sedate the dog, but the darts were duds. He has also set humane traps for Sam but he is eating the food and not setting off the trap.

"He is in awesome condition," Johannesen said. "Everyone who’s seen him has remarked on his size and how he looks like somebody’s pet."

After Sam was spotted in Fremont, Johannesen and Sprowl put out food for Sam on the edge of the woods. Sklarski bought a high-tech Stealth camera that he set up near the food to automatically take photographs when an animal comes by. They’ve spotted Sam at the food and it seems he is sticking around this area. Johannesen said he is feeding and wandering about during the early morning or night hours when no one is around.

The dedicated group plans to monitor Sam’s feeding times and make a third attempt at darting Sam soon.

"We have been chasing nothing but paw prints and empty bowls," she said.

Sklarski said it’s extremely important that they catch Sam as soon as possible because the hunting season is in full swing and winter is here.

"It’s been a concern since the deer season started in October," he said. "Our concern is that a hunter might mistake him for a deer because his color is perfect. I’m frightened. He’s running around in the woods alone. We haven’t stopped looking for him."

The group has received between 80 and 90 calls about the lost dog or Sam sightings. He still has on a harness, red collar and a foot of leash. He has been spotted in Sandown, Fremont, Candia and Raymond along Routes 107 and 102 and has even crossed Route 101. He has been surviving on food scraps in homeowner’s trash.

They put about 60 new posters on trees and telephone polls throughout the area last month and handed out fliers at area stores.

"We need more folks looking," Sklarski said. "We have an extremely dedicated group of people but we need more eyes. We can only be in so many places."

The Sklarskis are asking for the public’s help in finding their dog Sam. If anyone spots the dog, he encourages them to call immediately so Sprowl can attempt to calm the dog. Sklarski asks people not to approach Sam because he will get scared and run. Call Sklarski at 483-8030 (work), 463-7435 (home), 785-7920 (Dennis’ cell) and 370-0671 (Peggy’s cell) or Sprowl at 772-2921 Ext. 111 (work) or 674-9836 (cell).